Not everyone celebrated Christmas, not even all of the Earthers; some
had other celebrations set around the same time, others had none.
It wasn’t that confusing really, not to him, that one world could
hold different nationalities, different beliefs, or even lack of
beliefs. Sateda had once been a mass of different peoples, before
they had combined into one united force against the Wraith. Even
then, there were different cultures and beliefs, and he had learned to
be tolerant of them. After all, the fight against the Wraith was more
important than a difference of opinion.

Even Teyla knew the value of honouring other traditions and beliefs,
while holding her own; as one who traded on different worlds, she had
had to learn to do this. And although the idea of so many, many
different cultures on one planet was strange, it wasn’t so hard
for her to adjust to the idea.

Although not everyone celebrated Christmas, and many of those who did,
didn’t celebrate for religious reasons but for the sake of
tradition or the lure of presents and food and drink, or maybe both,
Sheppard, Beckett and Elizabeth did, and so Teyla and he also took part
in the festivities. As did a complaining McKay, though it seemed
to him that the complaints were more for show. Certainly, the
scientist had enjoyed the feasting.

Replete from their meal, the team plus Carson had retired to an
unoccupied rec room, for the exchanging of gifts, the consuming of
alcoholic beverages and the watching of The Grinch, a traditional movie
for this time of year he’d been assured by Sheppard, though McKay
had scoffed at that. Elizabeth had promised to join them later, after
socialising with others under her command.

The presents were piled under a small artificial tree, some gaily
wrapped in Earth paper, some wrapped in brightly coloured cloth, a few
wrapped in handmade paper, and some were tied with ribbons and twine,
while others were just fastened with tape.

He grinned to himself, remembering the night before. He’d
come down to place the presents he was giving under the tree to find
McKay trying to prise his open and sneak a peek at the contents.
It hadn’t taken long to scare the scientist off, and he’d
decided to spend the night on the extra long couch in the room.

Sure enough, a short while later, McKay had returned, hovering inside
the door after spotting him. He’d waited a few moments,
wondering what the scientist’s next move would be, but when
nothing changed he spoke up, telling McKay to go to bed. Of
course, McKay had jumped and given a squeak of surprise before
muttering how he’d thought Ronon was asleep. But he’d
left, and not come back.

It wasn’t that he minded if McKay got a sneak peek at this
presents, but messing with the guy’s head was just too tempting
at times.

Not to mention it was fun.

After the sharing of presents, and he might just have dropped into the
conversation McKay’s late night foray to the merriment of the
others, they sat down to watch The Grinch.

McKay complained, again, that The Grinch couldn’t be a tradition
when it was only a few years old. Sheppard defended his choice by
saying that the book had been around for much, much longer. Beckett
tried to put an end to the argument by stating that neither the book
nor the film were traditional in Scotland but he wasn’t quibbling, was he? Teyla looked exasperated as the bickering escalated after that.

Putting on his most evil grin, he threatened to stun them all if they didn’t shut up and just watch the damned movie.

It worked. Silence descended as the movie began to play.
Not that it lasted for long. McKay, be quiet? Never going
to happen.

On the first day of Christmas,
A true fan sent to me
A Rodney inside lab three.

On the second day of Christmas,
A true fan sent to me
Two haz-mat gloves,
And a Rodney inside lab three.

On the third day of Christmas,
A true fan sent to me
Three Z P Ms,
Two haz-mat gloves,
And a Rodney inside lab three.

On the fourth day of Christmas,
A true fan sent to me
Four Batman nerds
Three Z P Ms,
Two haz-mat gloves,
And a Rodney inside lab three.

On the fifth day of Christmas,
A true fan sent to me
Five stargate rings,
Four Batman nerds
Three Z P Ms,
Two haz-mat gloves,
And a Rodney inside lab three.

On the sixth day of Christmas,
A true fan sent to me
Six guns a-spraying
Five stargate rings,
Four Batman nerds
Three Z P Ms,
Two haz-mat gloves,
And a Rodney inside lab three.

On the seventh day of Christmas,
A true fan sent to me
Seven whales a-swimming,
Six guns a-spraying
Five stargate rings,
Four Batman nerds
Three Z P Ms,
Two haz-mat gloves,
And a Rodney inside lab three.

On the eighth day of Christmas,
A true fan sent to me
Eight fans a-filking,
Seven whales a-swimming,
Six guns a-spraying
Five stargate rings,
Four Batman nerds
Three Z P Ms,
Two haz-mat gloves,
And a Rodney inside lab three.

On the ninth day of Christmas,
A true fan sent to me
Nine ladies fencing,
Eight fans a-filking,
Seven whales a-swimming,
Six guns a-spraying
Five stargate rings,
Four Batman nerds
Three Z P Ms,
Two haz-mat gloves,
And a Rodney inside lab three.

On the tenth day of Christmas,
A true fan sent to me
Ten colonels sleeping,
Nine ladies fencing,
Eight fans a-filking,
Seven whales a-swimming,
Six guns a-spraying
Five stargate rings,
Four Batman nerds
Three Z P Ms,
Two haz-mat gloves,
And a Rodney inside lab three.